Hand-attached accessory device for infants



y 1957 R. FEENEY 2,798,482

HAND-ATTACHED ACCESSORY DEVICE FOR INFANTS Fil ed Jan. 27, 1956 INVENTOR. ROBERT FEE NEY Milt/$4M ATTORNEYS United States HAND-ATTACHED ACCESSORY DEVICE FOR INFANTS This invention relates to a hand-attached accessory device for infants.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a device for infants use which has improved means for attaching it to the infants hand so that it will not fall from the hand when the hand is reflexly or inadvertently opened.

Another object is to provide an improved accessory device for infants which may be used as a teething device, a pacifier, or a rattle.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a device of the type described which is easily attached and detached from the infants hand and which, when in place, does not injure the hand or impair circulation therein; which is readily cleaned or sterilized when necessary; which readily receives by a firm frictional grip either a conventional nipple as a pacifier or a rattle; which tends to inhibit thumb sucking; and which, when attached to the infants hand, allows substantially the free use thereof whereby the normal use of the hand will not be discouraged.

The above objects are accomplished by a device formed of a desired resilience having a handle portion and integral projecting portions. One of the projections is disposed on one end of the handle and may be used as a teething device or as a connecting support for either a pacifier or a rattle. Another projection extends laterally relative to the handle and is used priicipally as a teether. The accessory device is adapted to be attached to an infants hand by means of an elastic band member removably mounted on the handle portion thereof, and it is also contemplated to suspend from said handle by strap means a metallic teether device. The elastic band member is arranged to engage the back of the hand and firmly hold the device on the hand with the handle portion disposed in the palm. Groove means are also formed in the device on one side thereof for receiving the infants thumb to inhibit sucking of the thumb.

The invention will be better understood and additional objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred form of theinvention. It is to be understood, however, that the invention may take other forms, and that all such modifications and variations within the scope of the appended claims, which will occur to persons skilled in the art, are included in the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the present device mounted on an infants hand;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device removed from the hand;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the device with the pacifier removed;

Figure 4 is a end elevational view thereof, taken on the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the elastic band member which holds the device on the infants hand;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the band member taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a side elevational view showing a rattle mounted on one of the propections and also showing a metallic teether suspended from the handle; and

Figure 8 is an edge view of a strap member which holds the metallic teether on the handle.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, the present device comprises a body portion 10 having a handle 11, an end projection 128, and a lateral projection 13. The handle 11 is shown as being substantially cylindrical in cross section, and is provided with an annular groove 15 adjacent each of the body portion 10 and the outer end of the handle. Projection 12 is integrally joined with the body portion 10 by a reduced neck 17, Figure 3, and this projection is cylindrical in cross section and of a predetermined diameter frictionally to receive a pacifying nipple 18, Figures 1 and 2, or a rattle 19, Figure 7, preferably formed of a hard or semi-hard plastic. Shallow annular grooves 20 are provided on the periphery of the projection 12 for better holding the nipple 18, or rattle 19, in a frictional fit thereon. If desired, the nipple 18, or rattle 19, may be removed from the projection 12 and this projection then utilized as a teether, the grooves 20 providing a somewhat roughened. surface tobe engaged by the infants gums. If a pacifier or rattle attachment is desired, the desired attachment is mounted on the projection 12, and the connection between the parts is preferably a tight connection to prevent the infant from pulling otf the attachment. The nipple 18 has no holes so that it will not collapse when sucked, and not allow air to be sucked.

The lateral projection 13 comprises a substantially rectangular member forming a teether. This projection preferably extends forwardly at an angle relative to the handle so as to be disposed in a plane which is convenient for insertion in the infants mouth when the infant is wearing the device. Preferably, this projection has shallow, coved, transverse surface grooves 22 for providing a roughened teething surface.

The body portion 10 also has a short lateral projection 23 extending in the opposite direction from projection 13. Projection 2,3 is provided with a shallow transverse groove 25 which is arranged to receive the thumb when the device is held on the infants hand.

The means for holding the device on the hand comprises an elastic band member 26 having a pair of end apertures 27, these apertures being provided in thickened reinforced portions 28 of the band. One end of the band 26 has a tab extension 29 provided with a head portion 30 forming a finger grip. The band is held in place on the device by engagement of apertures 27 with the grooved portions 15 of the handle. When in place, the tab 29 extends laterally from the handle and the beaded portion .30 thereof can be readily gripped by the fingers for applying sufficient tension for stretching the aperture 27 to install or remove the tab end of the band relative to the rear portion of the handle.

Also within the contemplation of the present invention is another attachment 32 which is suspended from the handle 11 by means of a strap 33. As infants sometimes prefer metal teethers, the attachment 32 is metallic and preferably is in the form of a small bell which thereby also serves as a rattle. The strap 33 is preferably formed from tough plastic material and, as best seen in Figure 8, a pair of loops 35 and 36 for receiving the handle 11 and for engagement with an eye on the bell, respectively, are formed by looping the ends of the strap and welding a portion of the ends to the body of the strap. For mounting this attachment on the handle, the tab end of the band member 26 is removed and the loop 35 slid on the handle.

' Patented July 9, 1957 The present invention is particularly useful as an infantsaid inthatit may be used" as a teether, apacifier, a rattle, or a combination of these uses. If desired, the pacifier nipple 18 maybe removed from the projection 12"s'o' that two'teethingprojections of different shape are exposed, or so thata rattle 19 may be mounted in place ofthe pacifier. The projection 12 is of a size such that a'conventi'onal nipple will fit tightly thereover. When the device is properly in pla'cefonthe hand, the four fingers are disposed'between the band and the handle, With the handle being disposed in the infants palm and the b'and rnernb'er' 26 passing around the back of the hand behind the knuckles. The thumb is disposed below the handle ll and engages groove 25. The thumb is substantially confined in this groove so that the infant cannot get his thumb in'his' mouth and, therefore, this structure tends to inhibit sucking of the thumb. Substantially the full fingerlength extends on one side of the device whereby the projection 23' acts as a stop, together with a portion of thefthumb and,therefore, the infant has substantially fullu'se of thefin g ers' and thumb even though the present device i'slclamped on the hand. This feature is important in" that the device firmly grips the hand and yet it does not substantially impair the use of the thumb and fingers. The device can, therefore, be left on the hand for long periods of time Without discouraging use thereof. The band member 26' is formed of a soft, quite flexible, rubber strip and, While it firmly holds the device on the hand, it has slufiicient flexibility so as not to impair the circulation iin the hand.

Thebody member, including handle 11 and projections 12 '13. and 23,1are preferably integrally molded of a firm resilient material such as rubber or plastic. Preferably also, all parts of the device, including pacifier 18, rattle 19, band'26 and teether 32, are made of a material Which may be boiled in water, without deterioration, for steril- 12mg. j

7 Having now described my invention and in what manher the same may be used, what I claim as new and desire to prote'ct by Letters Patent is;

lg An accessory device forinfants comprising a handle, a teething portion on said handle, and an elastic band having its ends connected to said handle in longitudinally spacedrelationto form in combination with said handle a' longitudinally disposed loop for receiving a portion of air infants hand. I

2; An accessory device for infants comprising a handle, a teething portion integrally projecting from said handle, an elastic band having its ends connected to said handle in lon'gitudinally' spaced relation to form in combination \vith said' handle a longitudinally disposed loop for receiving the fingers of the infants hand, andmeans integral with said handle for receiving the infants thumb.

3. An accessory device for infants comprising a handle, ateething portionintegrally from said handle, an elastic band connected at spaced points to said handle to form a loop with said handle, said loop being arranged to confine a portionof the infants hand with the band engaging the back of the hand and the handle engaging the palm, and means integral with said handle for receiving the infants thumb.

4. An accessory device for infants comprising a handle,

a-projection on said' handle, said' projection forming-a" teether or a connecting support for a pacifier or a rattle, and an elastic band having its ends connected to said handle in longitudinally spaced relation to form in combination with said handle a longitudinally disposed loop for receiving a portion of an infants hand.

- 5. An accessory device for infants comprising a body portion; a projection on'one end of said body portion forming a handle and a projection on the other end of said body portion forming a teether, saidteether being arranged to provide a connecting support for a pacifying nipple for use in lieu of said teether, and means for holding said device on the infants hand.

6. An accessory device for infants comprising a body portion, a projection on one end of said body portion forming a handle and a projection on the other end of said body portion forming a teether, said teether being arranged to provide a connecting support for a pacifying nipple for usein lieu of said teether, an angularly directed projection on said bodyportion forming a second teether, and band means engageable with said infants hand for holding said device thereon.

7. An accessory device for infants comprising an elongated handle, a bandmember connected to said handle and being disposed along one side thereof for receiving an infants hand exclusive of the thumb, means on the opposite side of said handle from said band member for receiving the thumb, and a projection integrally formed on said handle for receiving either a teether or a rattle.

8. An accessory device for infants comprising an elongated handle, a band member removably connected to said handle and being disposed along one side thereof for receiving an infants hand exclusive of the thumb, thumb receiving means on the opposite side of said handle from the band member, and a pair of teethers integrally formed on said handle, one of said teethers being arranged to provide a connecting support for a pacifying nipple for use in lieuofsaid teether.

9. A teething device and pacifier comprising an elongated haridle, a teething projection extending laterally from one side of said handle, a thumb guard extending laterally from the opposite side of the handle, a cylindrical projection on one end' of the handle adapted to receive a pacifier nipple, and an elastic band having its ends detachably connected with opposite ends of said handle for securing the device to an infants hand.

10. An accessory device for infants comprising an References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,595,462 Johnson a May 6, 1952 2,688,261 Thomas Sept. 14, 1954 2,743,727 Griesinger May 1, 1956 

